CARO — Prosecutors accuse a 25-year-old Vassar Township man of making a terrorist threat against the Tuscola County Courthouse on Facebook.
Mason A. Lyons would face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted of making a false report or threat of terrorism.
“There is certain subject matter that needs to be avoided (on Facebook) at all costs,” said Tuscola County Prosecutor Mark E. Reene.
Lyons also is charged with using a computer to commit a crime, which also carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. He faces a third charge of making a false report or threat of a bomb or harmful device, which carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison.
Reene alleged Lyons posted information on or about Nov. 24 targeting the courthouse.
“There was an explanation as to why (Lyons) was mad; I can’t really get into what it was,” Reene said. “An individual learned of the posting on Facebook that led to the investigation by the Tuscola County Sheriff’s Department.”
Lyons, not accompanied by an attorney and wearing orange Tuscola County inmate garb, waived his right to a preliminary exam on the charges Monday before District Court Judge Kim David Glaspie, who ordered Lyons to stand trial on the charges in Circuit Court.
Tuscola County Jail workers said Lyons was sent to prison Tuesday for a probation violation. He is set to be arraigned on the three criminal charges on Jan. 5 in Circuit Court.